TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Trend Micro (趨勢科技) announced on Sunday (Nov. 24) that it will grant its employees in Taiwan a day off on Nov. 25 to celebrate the national baseball team's victory in the WBSC Premier 12. Taiwan's team clinched the championship by defeating Japan 4-0, ending Japan's 27-game winning streak.
Trend Micro's official Facebook account celebrated the triumph, describing it as a perfect sports performance and a source of national pride. The company emphasized that this victory marks a significant milestone in the history of Taiwanese baseball, prompting the CEO to declare a company-wide holiday.
According to the Central News Agency (CNA, 中央社), employees initially received an email from the human resources department around 11 p.m. on Sunday, suspecting it might be a phishing scam or cybersecurity test. After verifying the news, they expressed joy, noting they had never experienced such a holiday.
Following Taiwan's victory, many took to President Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) Facebook page, urging for a national holiday to celebrate. This practice has precedent; in 2022, Argentina declared a day off after Leo Messi led the nation to a World Cup victory, allowing citizens to celebrate in the streets.
Trend Micro's decision reflects a growing trend of recognizing significant national achievements with celebratory holidays, reinforcing the cultural importance of sports victories.